Matsusaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Tako Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. The shrine enshrines Ukanomitama no Mikoto, Ninigi no Mikoto, and Omiyanome no Mikoto as its principal deities and has been an important center of local faith for centuries.
Traditionally believed to have been founded in 772, the shrine has long been associated with prayers for abundant harvests and the performing arts. It is also closely connected with the ancient history of the area through the nearby Hojozuka Kofun, a large burial mound dating from the Kofun period.
Matsusaki Shrine is traditionally said to have been founded in 772. Since ancient times, it has been worshipped as a sacred place associated with grain, agriculture, music, and performing arts.
The shrine is also connected with the legendary military commander Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. According to tradition, he visited the shrine during his campaign against the Emishi in northeastern Japan and offered a mirror and a ceremonial arrow as sacred gifts.
The mirror and arrow were unfortunately lost during warfare, but a wooden drum, regarded as one of the shrine’s treasures, has survived and continues to be carefully preserved.
One of the most intriguing legends associated with Matsusaki Shrine concerns the Buddhist monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi.
During the Konin era in the early ninth century, Kukai is said to have stopped at the shrine while traveling around Japan. According to the legend, he took the ginkgo staff he was carrying, planted it upside down in the ground, and prayed for the prosperity of the shrine for generations to come.
The staff is said to have taken root and sprouted. Today, the resulting giant tree is known as Kukai’s Upside-Down Ginkgo and stands in front of the shrine. Its trunk has grown to approximately 6 meters in circumference, making it one of the memorable natural features of the shrine grounds.
Matsusaki Shrine was damaged by fire during the Rebellion of Taira no Tadatsune, which lasted from 1028 to 1030. The shrine was subsequently rebuilt in 1191.
It was formerly known as the Head Shrine of Bando Inari and received strong patronage and respect from powerful samurai families, including the Hojo and Satomi clans.
Tokugawa Ieyasu also granted the shrine a red-seal domain of 30 koku. The present main sanctuary was reconstructed in 1658, while the middle sanctuary and worship hall were rebuilt in 1756.
In 1869, the shrine was renamed Matsusaki Shrine. In 1873, it was designated a Go-sha, a higher-ranking village shrine under the shrine ranking system of the Meiji period.
Since then, Matsusaki Shrine has continued to serve as an important place of worship and a center of local cultural traditions.
Behind Matsusaki Shrine stands Hojozuka Kofun, an ancient burial mound believed to have been constructed between the middle and latter part of the 6th century.
The tomb is a keyhole-shaped kofun, a distinctive type of large burial mound found throughout Japan during the Kofun period. Such mounds were generally built for powerful political leaders and local elites.
Hojozuka Kofun stands on a plateau overlooking the Tokiwa River, a tributary of the Kuriyama River. The burial mound measures approximately 73 meters in total length.
The front section is approximately 38 meters wide, while the circular rear section is approximately 38 meters in diameter. The mound is about 6 meters high at the front and 7 meters high at the rear.
A survey of the mound was conducted in 1980 by the Archaeological Research Laboratory of Meiji University, during which the presence of cylindrical haniwa clay figures was confirmed.
No formal excavation of the main burial area has yet been conducted. However, a fragment of a haniwa quiver, a container used to carry arrows on the back, has reportedly been collected from the site.
This discovery suggests that the person buried here may have been a powerful local leader with an important military or political role.
Hojozuka Kofun is generally believed to have been constructed in the late 6th century as the tomb of a powerful local ruler in the Shimousa-Kaijo region.
Its location along an important route connecting the Kujukuri coastal area with the former Katori Sea suggests that the surrounding region played a significant role in transportation and trade during ancient times.
The close relationship between the burial mound and Matsusaki Shrine also adds another layer to the area’s long history. A tradition connecting Sakanoue no Tamuramaro with the shrine provides an additional link to the history and legends of the region.
The giant Kukai’s Upside-Down Ginkgo is one of the most distinctive features of Matsusaki Shrine.
According to local tradition, the tree grew from the staff that Kukai planted upside down during the Konin era. His prayer was said to express a wish for the shrine and the surrounding community to prosper for generations.
The story of a staff taking root after being planted upside down has given the tree a mysterious and spiritual character.
Today, the giant ginkgo is an impressive sight for visitors and is closely associated with the history and legends of Matsusaki Shrine. Its great size also provides a striking reminder of the many centuries that have passed since the story is said to have taken place.
Visitors enter Matsusaki Shrine through a traditional torii gate, which marks the transition from the everyday world into the sacred space of the shrine.
Beyond the torii stands the historic main sanctuary. The present structure was rebuilt in 1658 and has survived for centuries. Visitors can take a moment here to appreciate the architecture, the surrounding natural environment, and the shrine’s long religious history.
The area behind the shrine provides an opportunity to explore Hojozuka Kofun while enjoying the quiet natural surroundings.
Standing among the greenery, the ancient mound offers a tangible connection to the Kofun period and the powerful local communities that once flourished in the region.
Hojozuka Kofun is also part of a wider group of ancient burial sites found around the Kuriyama River basin, providing evidence of the importance and prosperity of the Tako area in ancient times.
Matsusaki Shrine and Hojozuka Kofun form a fascinating historical destination in Tako Town, where Shinto traditions, ancient archaeology, and local legends come together.
The shrine has served as a center of local worship from ancient times to the present, while stories of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro and Kukai add a legendary dimension to its history.
Meanwhile, Hojozuka Kofun provides an important archaeological connection to the ancient communities that lived in the area more than a thousand years ago.
Visitors to Matsusaki Shrine can therefore enjoy more than a traditional shrine visit. By exploring the shrine grounds, seeing Kukai’s Upside-Down Ginkgo, and walking around the nearby ancient burial mound, travelers can experience the deep layers of history and culture that have shaped Tako Town and northeastern Chiba.